Why is no one going to Olympia????

Jennie@ifish · 01-16-2004, 07:19 PM

For the meeting???

Don't you like springers???

What's up??? Too busy fishing tomorrow?

Pete has posted, and bumped, and posted, and bumped threads till they drop with little or no response.

HELLO???? :whazzup:

Is anyone going to the meeting, or do we not care????

I kind of felt like I do enough, but obviously not. I am going to get in my car and go.
I just don't get it.

Hey! Look at my fish I caught!
Hey, look! Look at my pictures of fishies!

He look! Look at my new scent that catches TONS of them!

Hey, wait a minute!!! HOW COME MY SEASON IS CLOSED????

Is anyone meeting, on the way up? I'll check in the morning. Maybe we can do the convoy thing if someone changes their minds. It could be sorta fun, you know. :smile:

Jen

[ 01-16-2004, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

love2fish · 01-16-2004, 07:23 PM

I don't get it either. It looks like only about 4 or 5 people are interested in going. That's not very good when you have a group of 6000. I know there are many more than that on here that complain about the gillnetters getting a bigger share.

Sorry,
love2fish

Jennie@ifish · 01-16-2004, 07:28 PM

Oh, they LOVE to complain about the gillnetters! That's easy!

But to do something? Are you kidding? :smile:

Anyhow, Bill and I will be there. I'd love to meet some people on the way, or there.

I'm just going to have a good time, if I'm going to go. :smile: :smile:

If anyone wants to meet, just let me know! I'll check in, in the morning. :smile: :smile:

It's not so bad driving to Olympia!

Jen

The Steelheader · 01-16-2004, 07:45 PM

I must admit not knowing about the meeting. I haven't been online in a few days and am out of the loop. I should be the first in line seeing my season is already closed. If I could I would be there, I'm sorry.

Silver Hilton · 01-16-2004, 08:00 PM

I'll be looking for ya, kiddo.

skrimmy · 01-16-2004, 08:05 PM

Ya know, I'm not fishing tomorrow, so I'm going up there. See you there.

DanS · 01-16-2004, 08:06 PM

Two hours from Portland and you're at the door.

If you can't make it in person, write a letter to ODFW and your local reps to let them know where you stand on the issue.

Your springer fishing depends on it.

Born to be Wild · 01-16-2004, 08:07 PM

Well, I'm working tomorrow.

As I posted a couple months ago, the problem and conflict with the gill netters is never going to go away unless you get rid of the gill netters.

Get rid of them and save yourselves some time & trips to Vancouver, Olympia and Portland.

Dano

Mrdorkfish · 01-16-2004, 08:14 PM

I'm not going because i am thankful for all the people that work so hard to make Thousands and Thousands and again THOUSANDS of fish available to us for the SPORT, I appreciate whatever i can get...I don't rely on them for food...I fish for them for fun and enjoyment and if i can eat one..i won't waste. Let the shirts decide who gets what...I'm just gonna make the best of what i've been given. This concludes my Nate/Springer rampage...have a great night :smile:

MrDorkfish [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

Louis

drhall99 · 01-16-2004, 09:28 PM

I'm one of the complainers but I have to work (as usual) so the letter that I wrote will have to do.

D.

Point-of-Sale Clerk · 01-16-2004, 09:38 PM

I have to work, good luck to all who go.

Jen, this is just the first in what will be many battles to come. We may not win the first one but many of us are fighting hard to win the final one�

P.S. this is all over piscatorialpursuits

Pickles · 01-16-2004, 09:45 PM

I also will be working unfortunately :depressed:

Though I did send an email to my local congressman!

Jennie@ifish · 01-17-2004, 05:16 AM

Dork,

I think that this is why we have such trouble with the sports rights. You pretty much summed up the attitude of the masses.
I was so bummed last night, but Bill, who has been an advocate of our sports fishing rights for many years, said, "Jen, this is the way it's been for 40 years or more. A few souls fight for our rights, and the rest enjoy them."

That to me, is so sad! Does it have to be that way? No! I praise PiscatorialPursuits.com, and Aunty M and Marty at Steelheader.net for their involvement. I'm going to let them fight this battle, and go. I'm not going to attend. I was so upset last night, that I couldn't sleep, and I would not be safe to drive. Besides, it would take me four hours there, and four hours back, and I can't drive at night. :depressed:

I feel guilty about not attending. :depressed: I think that was part of my frustration in the whole thing, and remains so.

I wouldn't slap you for attending, boater. I'd give you a hug. -And if you go, I'll give you a hug, later. :smile:

I only fish for springers in Portland a couple times, if that, a year. Still, being the owner of ifish, I feel responsible. I'm sending Pete, on ifish's behalf, and so are you. I think we owe him a huge round of appreciative applause. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
Pete, and the Washington sites are doing their job, and what a job they are doing!!!

My hat is off to you sports fishing folks, who take the responsibility to make a change for all of us!

Thank you!

Jen

[ 01-17-2004, 06:17 AM: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

steelheadslayer · 01-17-2004, 10:40 AM

I'd love to be there but unfortunately I'm at work right now. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

Smj · 01-17-2004, 12:05 PM

Add to TheRogue's list

GUIDES?? How many guides have we got here in Oregon that make $$$ off those fish?

Smj

TheRogue · 01-17-2004, 12:21 PM

It's been my limited experience that people in government tend to listen more to those with a vested ECONOMIC interest in something, rather than those who are just in it for the fun....hence the "unfair" division reccomended for the gillnets, they're after the $$$'s, not the playing.

And no, I don't believe that small contributions by tackle shops and boat dealers/builders to NSIA are good enough, they need to make a presence.

Last rant.

TR

Straydog · 01-17-2004, 01:12 PM

Lots of rationalizing and excuse making for having others walk the walk so many like to talk.....

Do you think boat builders and tackle retailers don't "have to work"? Do you think "sending" a volunteer that would have gone anyway fulfills your responsibilty? Do you think those Gill netters that "only do this part time and don't make a living off those fish" don't have to work? Do you think the NSIA representatives, the tackle manufacturers, the boat builders and the retailers don't want to go fishing or do something else on a Saturday if they have a scheduled day off? Do you think no one planned ahead and got the day off if they had been scheduled to work so they could go today?

PPlllleeeeeaaaassseeeee.... the reason more aren't there is because it is so much easier to complain that others are not going or that things aren't going your way, and then rationalize your own unwillingness to make the effort to
be there, plain and simple.

And before the flames begin, no I didn't go. I live in Southern Oregon and a two day trip is more than I am willing to invest. However, I did not come on here and complain that others weren't going, I merely gave my opinion in terms of the question posted. I did write letters to all of my local representives and phoned my local ODFW Commissioner.

One could replace the word "gillnetters" with most any issue, fishing related or otherwise, and Jen's own words would be just as accurate.

Quote:

Oh, they LOVE to complain about the gillnetters! That's easy!

But to do something? Are you kidding?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">EDIT. This opinion was not directed at Jenny, it seems there may be a question in that regard. Jen walks the walk as much or more than many.

[ 01-17-2004, 03:46 PM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

slabhunter · 01-17-2004, 02:26 PM

Jennie, Don't feel bad about not attending. You put so much of yourself, time and effort, in this community. Thank you!!!

TheRogue · 01-17-2004, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slabhunter:
Jennie, Don't feel bad about not attending. You put so much of yourself, time and effort, in this community. Thank you!!!

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Exactly, nothing but kudos for you and your site. I meant nothing demeaning about any of my posts, I apologize if anyone was insulted in anyway...

SD..that just doesn't make sense to me. Sorry, bottom line is that for every day the Columbia is closed to the sporties, it's money lost to those who make money off the fishery. We hear the $$$ figures thrown around about how much sportsfishing is worth to the economy all the time. If it's that important, then those who make their living on those $$$ have a vested interest in making sure it continues, don't you think.

TR

Straydog · 01-17-2004, 02:52 PM

TR,

I agree. However, let's not assume they are not there, number one.

Number two, let's not lose sight of the time and effort that we do put into these issues, beyond just this one.

Number three, please realize that a lot of time and energy by industry people has already gone into this issue. I know the GM of a large and extremly busy post trade show tackle distributor that took a half day off on Friday to lobby for the Sports. This same GM supports a salesman that invests tons of time during working hours to work on this and similar issues. Just because they may or may not attend todays meeting, does not mean they are not doing what they can do.

The owners and management of many, many industry manufacturers, distributors and retailers sacrafice thousands of hours both during work time and personal time to fight for these issues. Just because they may or may not be there today, does not mean they do not do thier part.

My sense is that you, not being in the industry or in all of the loops that are out there from the industry, my be selling many good, busy and involved people short.

Further, in my mind, to take the attitude that just because we make the money on it, we are the only ones responsible to see that you continue to have fish to fish on is not taking responsiblity for insuring the continuance of something you evidently get great pleasure from.

Kyle, extend your line of thinking to education. The teachers make the money on it, should they be the only ones fighting for it or should all of us that benefit from it be taking the responsibilty for it?

[ 01-17-2004, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

TheRogue · 01-17-2004, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Straydog:
TR,

I agree. However, let's not assume they are not there, number one.

Number two, let's not lose sight of the time and effort that we do put into these issues, beyond just this one.

Number three, please realize that a lot of time and energy by industry people has already gone into this issue. I know the GM of a large and extremly busy post trade show tackle distributor that took a half day off on Friday to lobby for the Sports. This same GM supports a salesman that invests tons of time during working hours to work on this and similar issues. Just because they may or may not attend todays meeting, does not mean they are not doing what they can do.

The owners and management of many, many industry manufacturers, distributors and retailers sacrafice thousands of hours both during work time and personal time to fight for these issues. Just because they may or may not be there today, does not mean they do not do thier part.

My sense is that you, not being in the industry or in all of the loops that are out there from the industry, my be selling many good, busy and involved people short.

Further, in my mind, to take the attitude that just because we make the money on it, we are the only ones responsible to see that you continue to have fish to fish on is not taking responsiblity for insuring the continuance of something you evidently get great pleasure from.

Kyle, extend your line of thinking to education. The teachers make the money on it, should they be the only ones fighting for it or should all of us that benefit from it be taking the responsibilty for it?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Some good points.

However, for the Oregon meeting, what I derived from Pete's report is that there was no representation by the tackle/guide/dealer/builder group other than NSIA reps.

If they're working behind the scenes, making personal contacts with the right people, that's fantastic. Are they? And if there's so much going on "behind the scenes", why bother with the public meetings, other than to give people a good feeling that they're actually doing something.

My scenario:

1 meeting
20 commercial fishing representatives
1 paid sports industry representative
30 sportsfishers.

who gets listened to?

The ones that can show that they have a direct and substantial dollar interest in getting as many fish as possible.

A better scenario:

1 meeting
20 commercial fishing representatives
30 sports industry representatives

We all know that the best thing for the economy is an uninterupted sports season on the Columbia. But, a bunch of people attending meetings to testify about what is essentially a leisure activity will never win out over commercial fishers, especially in Washington State, where the the WDFW leans toward their side most of the time anyway.

And, yes, we all benefit from good education...not sure if that can be transferred over to fishing.

I'm done, probably just making more enemies than friends on this one.

TR

foxer · 01-17-2004, 03:35 PM

Well said Rougue [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Straydog · 01-17-2004, 03:38 PM

The educaton/sportfishing analogy was not to compare the importance of the two. The analogy was to point out that ALL stakeholders need to take responsiblity for protecting that which is important to them.

Given what I believe you (and many, many others) have invested boats and gear, I have to assume this liesure activity is pretty important to you.

I agree that in a perfect scenariao the industry would be filling these meetings. But, there are unfortunatly few real life perfect scenarios and again, just because Pete did not report them being at the meeting does not mean they were not there and if they indeed were not there, that does not mean they are not involved. Having said that, belive me, I share your frustration that more industry people are not engaged............ ask some of my customers if you don't want to believe me!

As far as your "why have a public meeting" question, come on, think about the perceptions of people that buy licenses and support the resource and what those perceptions would be if these decisions were made without public meetings.......... there is a reason they are "public" meetings, that is to give the public a chance for input as well as to see how the decisions are made or at least supposed to be made.

[ 01-17-2004, 04:43 PM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

TheRogue · 01-17-2004, 11:59 PM

I've said it numerous times.

The word "sport" in "sportsfishers" says it all. Very, very few of us would be hardshipped by even a completely closed season. My wife would be happy about it, I'm sure. So, yes, that's why it's always just a few people out of the masses who do all the work to keep these things alive. Sad but true.

However....what about the tackle shops and boat dealers?? Their bottom lines are directly affected by even minimal closures! I would hope that FMO, GI Joes, Sportsman's, NR, Stevens Marine, etc., each send several PAID employees to be at this meeting, just like they should have been at the Oregon meeting. These business are really the ones that profit from open seasons, not us.

Ever the realist....

TR

boater · 01-18-2004, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Straydog:
As far as your "why have a public meeting" question, come on, think about the perceptions of people that buy licenses and support the resource and what those perceptions would be if these decisions were made without public meetings..........

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">straydog, the decision to up the commercial take of esa listed steelhead for the gillnetters was not on the agenda at the saturday meeting, please dont make it sound like every wildlife decision made by the wdfw is open to public comment let alone put before the commision.